The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-10
Work Of Last Week in the House and
Senate.
Appropriation Bills Already Passed by
the House.
The Interstate Commerce Bill Like
Iy to Pass BY Small MaJofity.'
Death of iBrevet BrIgadier General
Thomas Duncan.
(speclal Despatch 70 the PREss.l J

ing tne Journals. wednesday the house
passed the Indian and Military Academy ap-
preparation bills. and began the consideration
OF the bill to reorganize the bureaus of the
Navy Department. The Senate after, by
reason of objections on the Democratic side,
refusing to pass the bill pensioning Mrs. Lo-
gan, took up the Interstate commerce bill,
and Senator Platt consumed the remainder
OF the day in a speech opposing the bill,
which he had hot completed when the Senate
adjourned. Thursday the House passed ano-
ther appropriation bill, the Pension, and
then devoted the remainder of the day, with
out any action beingstaken, upon the naval
appropriation bill. The Senate in the morn
ing hour passed the bill placing Mrs. Logan
on the pension rolls at $1,000, also one giving
the widow of the late General Frank E. Blair
of Missouri an equal pension. Senator Platt
then concluded his speech against the inter-
State commerce bill, and Senator Morgan Of
Alabama followed him with another in oppo-
sition to the bill.
Friday was private bill day in the House
and quite number of bills of private ma
ture were passed.
Mr.. Hatch of Missouri tried to have private
RAAAS SSN ~o1bO AVAs AAo hSAAtuleuAdi Jill. uub
was unsuccessful The Senate also observed
Friday as kind of private day, devoting it
self to the consideration of bills on the cal
endar, and passing number, the most i'm
portant Of which were bill to settle and ad-
just the claims of any State for expenses in
Cured by it in defence Of the United States,
and one to authorize the Secretary of the
treasury to make final adjustment of claims
of certain foreign steamship companies aris-
ing from the illegal exaction of tonnage dues,
The Interstate Commerce Bill.
Opposition to the interstate commerce bill
in the Senate seems to be on the increase.
Both the speeches made on it thus far have
been in opposition, those of Senators Platt and
Morgan, and more TO follow. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Evarts of New York will oppose it.
The great points against which opposition
centres are the pooling" and ''long and
short haul" clauses
There is great diversity of opinion even
among railroad men as to the expediency of
the bill, some thinking it a wise measure, and
others saying that if passed in its present
form it will ruin the through transportation
business Of the country. l heard gentle
man express the opinion today that the only
thing that would save the bill in the Senate,
was the fact that some legislation of this kind
is demanded by the country would cause
many to vote for it who, if they voted in ac-
cordance with their own feelings in this mat
ter, would cast their vote against it. In
other words, that 'fear of their constituents
was stronger incentive than their own con-
viction as to the value ofthe measure There
is no doubt that popular sentiment, especial
ly in the Western States, is very strong in
favor of the bill, and this may and probably
will pull it through. The friends of the bill
claim about IL majority for it, but this svery
likely to be much reduced before the vote is
taken. delegation of Boston Chamber of
Commerce were in opposition to the bill on
Friday and Saturday.
Personal.
Isaac Genthner and Frank F. Cluff of DAM
ariscotta were here Saturday
Pensions have been granted as follows:
Sarah P, mother of Chas. Belden, Palermo;
Abigail L., mother of ALBERT II. Clements,
Winterport; Albert Dow, Saco; Henry R.
Butts. New Bedford; James Deerocher, Or
ono; Georgia A., widow of Chas. d. Wash
burn, Brewer; Corinthias, mother of George
r. Packard, Bingham; Eliza, mother of Geo.
G. Gardner, Rockland Samuel II. Harden,
Naples.
Calming an Angry Sea.
The photographic Office has just received
the following in regard to the use of oil in
English steamer Katie from Hartlepo0l to
Baltimore, reports to this office as follows:
In November last when the master of the
steamer Durham City was bound from Bos-
ton to London, with $50 cattle ON deck, en-
countered heavy gale commencing at south
west and ending at northwest with high and
heavy sea put out two oil bags, one on each
quarter. filled with paint oil and paraffine
mixed, about half each. Put the ship before
the sea and slowed the engines with foretop-
sail set. This gave speed of between three
and four knots. Under these circumstances
the oil effectually broke the sea and the ship
rode wonderfully. No seas boarded the yes
sci and not piece OF board was broken from
the cattle pens. As the wind shifted to the
northwest, kept the ship before it and run at
fall speed during the remainder of the gale,
no damage being done. The Durham City
Is flush deck steamer. with only turtle
back aft to protect the Wheel" Since the
commencement of the publication on the
pilot chart of the experiences of ship mas
ters in the use of oil, many devices have
been invented to facilitate its proper distri-
button. A Mr.. Larsen of Copenhagen has
recently sent to the photographic office a
sample "wave breaker" as he calls it. 1t
consists of conical shaped canves bag fitted
with metal top and metal apex, in which
there is small sieve. Oakum is loosely
stuffed into the lower part of the bag. and
the oil, soaking through, drips out of the
sieve. The English channel fleet was re-
Gently provided with number of these bags
while at Copenhagen, and they have been
introduced into the Italian navy.
The Electoral Bill.
The conferees on the electoral count bill
held two meetings today, and practically
reached an agreement on that measures al
though another conference will be held next
week in order to perfect the text Of the bill.
The amendments made by the House in the
Senate bill have substantially received APP
proval of the Senate and conferees, and
whatever changes have been made by the
conference committee are intended to make
even more plain beyond contention the prop
osition that with the States rests the power
absolutely to determine any controversy
with reference to their electoral votes, and
in the event of failure of the State to make
such decisions as between two sets of re-
turns, neither set can be counted except up
on concurrent vote.
Death of General Duncan.
Brevet Brigader General Thomas Duncan
died here yesterday. His case was one of
the most remarkable in the annals sof the
war, presenting an instance heretofore al
most, if not altogether, unknown, that of
survival after being struck by a cannon ball.
General Duncan was struck in the head and
a portion of his skull was carried off. Tre-
panning was resorted to, and he has worn
for 20 odd years silver plate which replaced
the abstracted portions of his shattered
skull. He was born in Illinois and appoint
ed to West Point from that State. He was
commissioned a first lieutenant, May 27,
1916, and breveted for gallant and meritori-
GUS conduct on the field.
Mrs. CIeveland's First.
Mrs. Cleveland held her first public recep-
tlon of the season this afternoon, from to
O'Clock. Ladies began to arrive at the White
House by o'clock, and waited patiently un-
til the appointed hour. Mrs. Cleveland was
assisted by Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Endicott,
Miss Villas and Miss Hastings, niece of the
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